Ball and stick game



Dec. 3, 1968 J. D. MISHLER BALL AND STICK GAME Filed May 1]., 1966 I NVENTOR.

4 11/44 waaw United States Patent 3,413,755 BALL AND STICK GAME Jerry D. Mishler, Minburn, Iowa. 59167 Filed May 11, 1966, Ser. No. 549,221 3 Claims. (Cl. 46-220) This invention relates to a ball and stick game having certain definite and discrete improvements therein.

There has long been known a childrens toy comprising an ordinary wheel and an operating stick with a cross member at the end for pushing or rolling the ball along the ground or floor. The improvement of this invention involves the creation of a game or toy wherein the characteristics and quality of the known wheel and stick game are intermarried with some of the qualities and characteristics of the game of bowling. The game of bowling may be played on a bowling alley or as is well known, it may be played also on a lawn or other ground area. Ordinarily when played on a lawn, a smaller ball is used than when played on a bowling alley. The game does not use an ordinary plane wheel but rather uses a ball, that is, spherical rolling member. The ball may be similar to a bowling ball of the smaller type. However, there is a further modification in that the ball is provided with a circumferential or diametral extending rib passing completely around the ball. The ball may be made of various materials, such as plastic or hard rubber or the like, and the diametral rib may be made of a similar material including rubber which may be either hard or soft rubber. The game or toy of the present invention utilizes a guiding or operating stick with a cross member at the end which is preferably curved, that is, it is arcuate to assist in maneuvering and guiding the ball member as will be described. This combination of features provides new and unexpected results and unusual entertainment value when operated using a technique as will be described. Preferably the operating or maneuvering stick is provided with an elongated groove extending substantially from one end to the other. When the stick is held at an angle with the maneuvering end carrying the arcuate transverse member on or near the ground, the ball with its diametral rib may be rolled down the stick with the rib rolling in the slot in the stick. This stabilizes and guides the rolling ball and causes rotary motion to be imparted to it about an axis which is transverse to the diametral rib. Thus in this manner, the spherical ball is stabilized by its rotation about the axis described at the time that it leaves the guiding and maneuvering stick. The manipulations and effects that can be realized are quite different than what can be done with an ordinary wheel and guiding stick. An ordinary wheel can be pushed along and guided only by contact of the manipulating stick with the rim or periphery of the wheel. If the wheel tips or cants over at an angle to one side, it is difficult to keep it moving, and usually its rolling motion has to be started over again. The effect of the spherical ball and diametral rib is considerably different. If the ball leans or slants over to one side, the sphere itself can come into contact with the ground as well as the diametral rib. The ball does not completely fall over, but continues rolling accompanied only by a change in direction. Then also the ball can be guided and maneuvered not only by contact of the arcuate pusher or guiding member with the diametral rib, but also by contact of the transverse member with side portions of the spherical ball itself. By such contact the ball can be speeded up in its rolling direction and also by such contact the ball can be tilted back up onto its diametral rib to roll thereon. As may be seen therefore, the toy or game introduces a number of new and different operating and maneuvering techniques as well as motions and effects of the ball itself. New and different qualities of operating skill are realized and the enice tertainment value and appeal of the toy are proportionately increased.

In the light of the foregoing the primary object of the invention is to provide a new and improved toy or game of the ball and stick type featuring the characteristics of a rolling member and a guiding and maneuvering stick, wherein the rolling member is not a plane wheel but is of spherical shape.

Another object is to provide a toy or game as in the previous object wherein the rolling member is in the form of a sphere or ball having a circumferential diametral rib on which the ball is adapted to roll.

Another object is to provide a toy or game as in the foregoing wherein the toy includes an operating or maneuvering stick having an arcuate transverse pusher member and having an elongated slot whereby it is adapted to have the rolling member roll down the stick with the diametral rib moving in the slot.

Further objects and additional advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front view of a form of the invention shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view of the rolling member partly broken away;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of a slightly modified form of maneuvering stick.

Referring now more in detail to FIGURES 1 to 4 of the drawings, this figure shows a preferred form of the invention showing the manner of starting the rolling ball in its movement. The operating or maneuvering stick is designated at 10 and the rolling member is designated at 12. The maneuvering stick may be made of wood or comparable material and preferably is configurated to have the shape as shown in the figures. At the end is a handle 13 which is of the size to be conveniently grasped by the hand. Along the length of the maneuvering stick there is provided an elongated slot 15. The depth of this slot varies. Adjacent the handle 13 the dimension of the handle between the top and bottom is slightly greater, that is, in the area designated at 17 and this dimension is also enlarged at the area 18 adjacent to the other end of the maneuvering stick. Between these two areas 17 and 18 of greater dimension, at an intermediate part of the stick is an area 21 of lesser dimension, that is, between the top and bottom of the stick. These areas gradually blend into each other by way of smooth curves as indicated in FIG- URE l. The handle 13 has a fiat upper surface 23 and at the inner end of the handle portion is a ramp 25 leading down into the bottom of the slot 15.

At the lower end of the maneuvering stick 10 on the top surface thereof, there is a cut-out 27 and inserted or seated in this cut-out is the transverse arcuate pusher member 29. The ends of this member are curved forwardly as shown and its intermediate portion is attached to the cut-out surface of the stick 10 by screws 31 and 32.

The 'stick 10 may preferably be made of wood, plastic,

metal or other suitable material. The pusher 29 may be made of wood, plastic or light weight metal, fiber board or other comparable material.

The ball 12 is preferably approximately the size of any small size bowling ball, but it may be made in other sizes. It may be made of plastic or other suitable material and if desired, it may have apertures or perforations in it. Circumferentially positioned around the ball 12 is a diametral rib of material 35 which may be made of hard or soft rubber or other material. The ring or rib member 35 passes around the diameter of the ball. The member 35 has relatively fiat or slightly arcuate surfaces 36 on the inside to engage with and adhere to the surfaces of the ball 12. The material of the ring or rib member 35 is preferably stretchable sufficiently so that it can be stretched to fit around a diameter of the ball 12 and then to be firmly held in that position. FIGURE 4 shows the position of the ball 12 with the ring or rib 35 engaged in the slot 15 and the stick 10. FIGURE shows a slightly modified form of the invention wherein the maneuvering stick has a slightly different configuration. The handle or grip 13 is rounded and arcuate on the underside as shown at 40. The slot 15' extending longitudinally of the stick has a square shoulder 41 inwardly from the end. The sides of the slot, one of which is designated at 43 curve downwardly towards the lower end of the stick and terminate at a point spaced from the end as designated at 44. The intermediate portion of the stick 46, that is, the part between the sides of the slot and forming the bottom of it extends beyond the side portions of the slot as shown, and the transverse guiding member 25 is attached to this part of the stick as in the previous embodiment.

From the foregoing those skilled in the art will understand the nature of the invention and will observe that it accomplishes and realizes all of the objects and advantages as outlined in the foregoing, as well as having many additional advantages that are apparent from the detailed description. The toy or game combines the entertainment appeal and characteristics of a ball and stick game and the game of bowling. The rolling member is placed in motion by rolling it down the slotted stick with its diametral rib in the groove. This imparts rolling motion to the ball about an axis transverse to the plane of the diametral rib so that the ball is stabilized. It can be guided in its rolling motion by any part of the curved guiding member 29 which can be brought into contact either with the diametral rib or with side portions of the spherical ball for steering or guiding it. If the rolling member tends to lose balance and tip over to one side, the spherical surfaces will contact the ground and it then can be brought into an upright stabilized position rolling on the diametral rib by maneuvering the stick and guide member 29 so that the contact of the guide member 29 with side portions of the spherical ball will move it back into its upright stabilized position rolling on the diametral rib 35. The game embodies characteristics offering possibilities of developing new and unusual controlling and maneuvering techniques and the entertainment value and appeal of the game is augmented accordingly.

The foregoing disclosure is representative of preferred forms of the invention and is to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than in a limiting sense, the invention to be accorded the full scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A toy comprising in combination a stick, a transverse member at the end of said stick for pushing and guiding a rolling member, and a rolling member of spherical shape adapted to be pushed, rolled and guided by the transverse member on the end of said stick, said rolling member having a circular rib extending around a diameter thereof, whereby the rolling member is adapted to roll on said circular rib, and to roll on its spherical surface if it deviates off said circular rib, said stick having a lengthwise groove in its surface of a size to receive therein the circular rib on the rolling member whereby the rolling member may be rolled down the stick with the circular rib traveling in said groove.

2. A toy as in claim 1 wherein said transverse member on the stick is of arcuate configuration.

3. A combination as in claim 1 wherein the spherical member is made of a light weight plastic material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,048,047 12/1912 Curtis 273-1,28 X 1,833,531 11/1931 Pearson 273l28 2,976,645 3/1961 Hight et a1 46220 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

C. R. WENTZEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TOY COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A STICK, A TRANSVERSE MEMBER AT THE END OF SAID STICK FOR PUSHING AND GUIDING A ROLLING MEMBER, AND A ROLLING MEMBER OF SPHERICAL SHAPE ADAPTED TO BE PUSHED, ROLLED AND GUIDED BY THE TRANSVERSE MEMBER ON THE END OF SAID STICK, SAID ROLLING MEMBER HAVING A CIRCULAR RIB EXTENDING AROUND A DIAMETER THEREOF, WHEREBY THE ROLLING MEMBER IS ADAPTED TO ROLL ON SAID CIRCULAR RIB, AND TO ROLL ON ITS SPHERICAL SURFACE IF IT DEVIATES OFF SAID CIRCULAR RIB, SAID STICK HAVING A LENGTHWISE GROOVE IN ITS SURFACE OF A SIZE TO RECEIVE THEREIN THE CIRCULAR RIB ON THE ROLLING MEMBER WHEREBY THE ROLLING MEMBER MAY BE ROLLED DOWN THE STICK WITH THE CIRCULAR RIB TRAVELING IN SAID GROOVE. 